Volkswagen Caravelle Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volkswagen Caravelle car check
Is the Volkswagen Caravelle reliable? We analysed 422,168 real MOT tests across 24,962 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volkswagen Caravelle? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volkswagen Caravelle is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include registration plate lamp not working, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Caravelle.
Volkswagen Caravelle Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Caravelle. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volkswagen Caravelle MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Volkswagen Caravelle to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Volkswagen Caravelle Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Volkswagen Caravelle fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Volkswagen Caravelle Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Caravelle owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volkswagen Caravelle MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Caravelle year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 66 | 78.8% | 23,567 | 31,170 | 40,994 |
| 2020 | 659 | 85.4% | 22,799 | 32,783 | 44,840 |
| 2019 | 3,678 | 85.3% | 25,687 | 38,912 | 55,564 |
| 2018 | 4,180 | 83.6% | 27,235 | 42,290 | 60,660 |
| 2017 | 7,657 | 83.6% | 33,999 | 51,742 | 75,314 |
| 2016 | 9,282 | 81.6% | 37,236 | 55,707 | 80,234 |
| 2015 | 7,551 | 80.5% | 39,228 | 59,888 | 87,096 |
| 2014 | 7,319 | 81.3% | 37,313 | 59,410 | 86,688 |
| 2013 | 9,098 | 81.3% | 40,388 | 63,506 | 89,667 |
| 2012 | 11,767 | 80.1% | 45,446 | 74,698 | 115,002 |
| 2011 | 10,701 | 78.4% | 45,209 | 74,813 | 111,542 |
| 2010 | 10,871 | 76.7% | 48,891 | 78,643 | 114,102 |
| 2009 | 7,964 | 73.2% | 48,823 | 80,233 | 115,491 |
| 2008 | 12,464 | 72.2% | 61,164 | 97,153 | 140,400 |
| 2007 | 14,060 | 72.2% | 62,927 | 99,340 | 142,408 |
| 2006 | 15,654 | 70.8% | 72,000 | 117,195 | 168,220 |
| 2005 | 18,853 | 70.0% | 77,363 | 121,340 | 168,240 |
| 2004 | 15,103 | 70.2% | 77,880 | 121,044 | 168,954 |
| 2003 | 19,523 | 69.6% | 92,994 | 140,422 | 191,176 |
| 2002 | 23,249 | 70.5% | 94,340 | 146,857 | 204,480 |
How Long Does a Volkswagen Caravelle Last?
Based on 24,962 Volkswagen Caravelle vehicles on UK roads.
Volkswagen Caravelle Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Caravelle MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Caravelle
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
85.4% MOT pass rate from 659 tests
61.4% MOT pass rate from 298 tests
The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Caravelle is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.4% across 659 tests. The 1973 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Volkswagen Caravelle Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Caravelle THIS CAR | 71.2% | 422,168 | 107,704 mi | 43 yrs |
| Volkswagen Golf | 74.9% | 22,270,993 | 83,305 mi | 37 yrs |
| Volkswagen Polo | 72.9% | 14,598,296 | 60,351 mi | 35 yrs |
| Volkswagen Passat | 73.5% | 6,960,690 | 105,632 mi | 32 yrs |
| BMW 530 | 76.9% | 801,983 | 101,870 mi | 27 yrs |
Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Caravelle trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Volkswagen Caravelle you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Volkswagen CaravelleShould you buy a used Volkswagen Caravelle?
The Volkswagen Caravelle has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.2% across 422,168 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Volkswagen Caravelle are registration plate lamp not working (8,177 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (6,845), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (6,266). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Volkswagen Caravelle owner drives around 5,286 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Volkswagen Caravelle models stay on UK roads for around 43 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.